7 June 2018
By Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters
Some members of Australia’s elite special forces (click here) allegedly committed war crimes in Afghanistan amid a “complete lack of accountability” from the military chain of command, a confidential defence inquiry has found.
The report reveals that special forces insiders have confidentially disclosed “unsanctioned and illegal application of violence on operations” by Australian special forces soldiers which extend to a “disregard for human life and dignity”.
...The confidential inquiry also warns that Australia’s national security is being damaged by “major gaps in knowledge” across government about the capability and culture of Special Operations Command, and poor coordination between its two key units, the Special Air Service Regiment and the Commandos....
...Allegations of war crimes are the subject of an investigation by NSW judge Paul Brereton into the activities of Australia’s special forces in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2016. The Brereton investigation was prompted by the Crompvoets report.
Previous efforts to obtain the Crompvoets’ report under FOI laws have been blocked....
